Method of burnishing metallic banding on tableware



Oct. 13, 1970 EARLEY 3,533,196

METHOD OF BURNISHING METALLIC BANDING ON TABLEWARE Filed Dec. 1, 1967 INVENTOR. James A. E arley ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,533,196 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,196 METHOD OF BURYISHING METALLIC BANDING N TABLEWARE I James A. Earley, Sistersville, W. Va., assignor to Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 687,104 Int. Cl. B24b 1/00 US. Cl. 51--281 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved method of burnishing fired-on metallic banding on tableware to repeatably provide a uniform aesthetic luster by utilizing a counter-rotating abrasive impregnated member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past it has been cutomary to burnish metallic banding on tableware by rotating the tableware and handpressing a hard rubber stick or synthetic pad impregnated with abrasive material against the metallic area to be burnished. Since hand pressure was utilized to apply the abrasive material to the banding as the ware rotated, a non-uniform luster resulted due to variations in the amount of hand pressure applied. A further difficulty experienced with the known method was the inadvertent removal of portions of the banding due to the periodic application of excessive pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention alleviates the problems heretofore encountered with known burnishing methods by incorporating a unique sequence of steps, including that of rotating the ware to be burnished in one direction, rotating a silicon carbide-impregnated fibrous disc in an opposite direction, and applying the disc to the ware under a constant predetermined pressure for a specific period of time.

It thus has been an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of burnishing metallic banded ware to produce a uniform luster.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The figure is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustrating a preferred method of burnishing or polishing metallic banding on a tableware article.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the decoration of tableware such as glass and ceramic dishes, it is common to provide a gold or platinum decorative banding adjacent edge portions of the ware. After the banding material is applied to the Ware, the ware is positioned within a kiln and the metallic band or bands are fired onto the surface thereof. However, upon emerging from the kiln the metallic banding has a very dull appearance which must be burnished or polished in order to provide the desired luster.

In a preferred embodiment, the ware W is rotated in one direction on a suitable support S, and a silicon carbide impregnated fibrous burnishing disc D is rotated in an opposite direction and applied to the metallic banding B under a predetermined pressure for a desired time period. The fibrous burnishing or polishing disc is impregnated yw with ultra fine particles of silicon carbide, having a fineness of between about #500 and #600 grit, so as not to score or remove the metallic banding, such as would be occasioned with a coarser abrasive. Further, the fibrous disc has an inherent resiliency thereto which permits the deflection thereof to compensate for any out-of-roundness in the ware, while maintaining a predetermined pressure between the burnishing disc and the banding material.

As a specific example, but by no means limiting in nature, a ware item having liquid banding platinum fired thereon was rotated counter clockwise at about 200 r.p.m. A three-inch diameter by three-eighths inch wide fibrous disc, impregnated with ultra fine silicon carbide, was rotated in a clockwise direction at a speed of about 6,000 r.p.m. The edge of the rotating burnishing disc was applied to the fired banding with the total pressure on the contacted area being about 12 ounces, and was maintained in contact with the banding under constant pres-sure for a period of 2% seconds. Upon completion of the operation, the asfired dull metallic banding exhibited a uniform highly-polished luster.

It will be appreciated that the thickness, composition, and firing of the metallic banding will determine the time and pressure limits which may be utilized in the burnishing operation. However, when burnishing a newly fired gold or platinum banding, the total pressure applied thereto should not exceed about 24 ounces, or there is a tendency for the burnishing wheel to remove portions of the band ing. Further, if the total pressure applied is below about 6 ounces, a lengthy time period is required to obtain a uniform highly polished luster.

I claim:

1. An improved method of polishing fired-on metallic banding on ware articles which comprises, rotating a ware article having metallic banding thereon in one direction, rotating a polishing disc for counter rotational engagement with the rotating ware, engaging an edge por tion of said counter rotating polishing disc with the metallic banding under a predetermined pressure, maintaining said disc in engagement with said banding under said predetermined pressure for a desired time period, and said polishing disc being formed of a silicon carbideimpregnated fibrous material which resiliently engages the banding and maintains engagement therewith while compensating for out-of-roundness in the ware.

2. An improved method as defined in claim 1 wherein the polishing disc is applied to the banding with a total contact pressure of between 6 ounces and 24 ounces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 808,482 12/1905 Sellmayer 5l105 1,372,553 3/1921 Ryon et al 51--l07 X 1,962,438 6/1934 Flanzer et .al. 51-105 X 2,700,255 1/1955 Meier 5l--283 X 3,355,840 12/1967 Bonning 51227 X LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner 

